This great honky tonk tune, teaches a lesson of life as most country songs do. It was recorded by Mickey
Gilley in the key of G. I play bass guitar, so I put in the places for the bass walk-ups to the next
chord. In Nashville numbering the chords are 1=G, 4=C, 5=D.
G G C G (walk to 1)
The orchid is a flower that blooms so tenderly.
G G D7 D (walkup 5 to 1)
It thrills the fairest lady of the land.
G G G (walk 1-4)
If placed beside a blushing rose,
C G
The rose could not compare.
G D7 G G (walk to 1)
But how was such as I, to understand.
chorus
G G (walk 1-4) C G
I overlooked an orchid while searching for a rose.
G G D7 D (walk 5 to 1)
The orchid that I overlooked was you.
G G (walk 1-4) C G
The rose that I was searching for has proved to be untrue.
G D7 G (walk to 1)
The orchid that I find my dear was you.
Instrumental G D G G (walk to 1)
G G (walk 1-4) C G
The rose has lost its color, but the orchid stays the same.
G G D7 D(walk 5-1)
And I'm alone to face these lonely years.
G G (walk 1-4) C G
I didn't see the orchid, I was looking for a rose.
G D7 G G (walk to 1)
And now I pay the price with bitter tears.
chorus
So get the CD and start playing along. New bass players, I play the
walkups this way. Walk 1-4 1,2,3,4, so in G its G,A,B,C.
Walk 5-1 5,4,3,2, so D,C,B,A. Walk to 1, on the D string, D,E,F# and
G on 4th string, 5,6,7,8 or 1.